4 more blasts to stop rescuers

20 November,2009 08:13 AM IST |   |  Agencies

Naxals blow up railway track in Jharkhand, derailing passenger train, and they have a deadlier plan...


Naxals blow up railway track in Jharkhand, derailing passenger train, and they have a deadlier plan...

Maoists didn't stop at blowing up a portion of a rail track and derailing eight bogies of Tata-Bilaspur passenger train in Jharkhand last night. They reportedly booby-trapped other tracks to delay the arrival of reinforcements.

The blast occurred at 9:15 pm. Said Railway minister Mamata Banerjee, "Maoists blew up a portion of the railway track, causing the derailment.


Of the 10 coaches, five derailed and three toppled over, including the engine."

Added Banerjee, "There were three to four blasts nearby to deter rescuers."

A special train carrying West Singhbhum SP Akhilesh Kumar Jha and other officials was forced to halt after a blast near another station at 11pm.

SP (Rail) A B Homker in Ranchi, said, "Railway staff and rescue teams have reached the spot and are cutting open the bogies."

Three of the badly damaged bogies were believed to be carrying CRPF personnel.

Meanwhile, train movement on the Howrah-Mumbai route came to a halt following the incident. Several trains were diverted.

At 6 am
3 passengers were reported dead, another 4 feared dead and 47 others were injured
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Naxals Jharkhand railway track Tata-Bilaspur